Separation of materials



Aug. 2, 1932.

J. M. CLEAVER SEPARATION OF MATERIALS Filed April 20, 1931 INVENTOR. WJEMM CZecweI R v M ATTORNEY.

Ill

latentcd Aug. 2, 1932 UNE'E'EE STATES J'QEN I. CLEAVEB, 0! L08 AII'ELES, QAI JFOBHIA QEPABATIQK OF MATERIALS Application and April 20, 19:1. sci-talus. 581,887.

This invention relates to separation of materials,-such as removal of solids from liquids or removal of finely divided li aids or solids from gases, and has for its 0 ject to rovide'a continuous separation which will e free of obstruction by accumulated materials, and which may be carried on with minimum expenditure of energyand by an extremely simple but practical apparatus offering no diiiiculties of mechanical construction or operation.

More particularly it is an object of the invention to separate suspended material from a fluid. by exerting sufficient pressure on the fluid to force it centripetally against the action of centrifugal force, which, since suspended material is not subject to motivation by pressure, will centrifugally separate the suspended material from the centripetally flowing fluid.

It is a further object of the invention to create the desired centrifugal force by rotatingthe body of fluid which is being forced centripetally by a pressure in excess of the pressure occasioned by the centrifugal force, and to utilize this whirling body of fluid for changing the direction ofmovement of at least some of the particles of suspended materials mixed with the fluid supply, so that while the incoming fluid, due. to' its pressure motivation, will mix with and be incorporated in the whirling body of fluid, at least some of the particles of suspended materials upon striking the whirling body of fluid, will be thrown oil at a tangent without entirely entering the whirling mass, and consequent- 1y at least some of the suspended materials will be separated by. this repelling action caused by the momentum of the fluid and irrespective of centrifugal force, while any remaining suspended materials which entirely enter the whirling bodyof fluid will be separated by the centrifugal force opposed to the centripctally flowing fluid.

'The invention thus contemplates separation by centrifugal movement of suspended materials and centripetal flow of the fluid with which the suspended materials are.

mixed; together with some separation oi. suspended materials not by centrifugal force,

from the filtering medium and but as a result of at least some of the suspended materials bein thrown off at a tangent when first contacting a body of fluid whirling under pressure and having a mo" mentum ,in excess of the incoming fluid supply.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide an a paratus ada ted for the desired centripeta flow of fiui while centrltugally separating sus ended materials whlch may be mixed wit the fluid; and to also adapt the apparatus for suflppliymg the per se,

mixed sus nded materials and so that the incoming flow strikes a whirling mass of fluid under ressure and having a greater momentum than that of the incoming flow, in order to throw off and separate at least some of the particles of suspended material without ever entering the whirling mass m which the centrifugal separation of any remaining suspended materials takes place.

It is a still further object of the invention to adapt the a paratus for readily controlled withdrawal 0 the separated sus ended materials, and to rotate the body 0 fluid b' a suitable impeller, with the incoming ow supplied to the apparatus adjacent its outer periphery, and the fluid from which suspended materials have been separated d18- charging adjacent the axis of the apparatus so that the impeller may be rotated withminimum consum tiono power.

It is a still fart er object of the invention to preferably'discharge the fluid from which suspended materials have been separated,

through a suitable filtering medium which is adapted to separate any such extremely fine particles of suspended materials, the individual mass of which is too small to bring them under the discarding influence of the centrifu al stress resulting from rotation of the impe ler, and which will thus collect on the filtering medium which is preferably arranged for rotation with the impeller, so that the accumulation of residue w ll periodically aggregate such a masses be mfluenced by centrifugal stress for removal discharge through the eentripetallyflowing fluid before such fouling of the "filtering surface as would apparatus.

ig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2'2 of Fig. 1.

The invention is adapted for separation of any finely suspended matter from s fluid, either solid materials from a liquid or finely divided liquids or solids from gases, and embodies centrifugal se aretion of suspended materials from s whirling mass of centripetally flowing fluid, to ether with forcing aside of at least some ol the suspended meterial as the incoming flow first contscts the whirling mess of fluid, so that while the fluid element of the incoming flow is incorporated in the whirling mass, more or less of the sus ended materiel is thrown ofl at e tengent an separated without ever having been incorporeted entirely in the whirling fluid.

This desired separation may be obtained by use of a device comprising e housing 1 in which a mess of fluid may be rotated h impellers 2 mounted on s drive shelt 3 whico is rotated in suitable manner, with fluid con taining finely suspended matter supplied to the housin adjacent its periphery end at a pressure a opted to force the fluid element of the flow centripetelly through the lions ing to an outlet 4 adjacent its axis, and the suspended .rnetter acted upon by the whirling mess in the housing for centrifugal dis charge at the periphery of the housing. At the some time the momentum of the whirling mass or fluid in the housing, will tangentially throw ed at least some of the suspended matter in t e incoming flow when it first contacts the whirling, fluid whichis under pressure incident to its motion, so thst such suspended matter is separated irrespective of the subsequent separation due to centrif= ugal force as opposed to centripetsl flow .of fluio; the intake for the incoming flow is arranged so as to permit sus ended matter being thus readily thrown o upon striking the whirling messin housin J 1.

As'an instance of one practical embodiment the housing 1 may have its aziel discharge 4 depending fromits underside, with shaft 3 projecting axially into the housin throu h 1ts upper well and the impeller lilo, es 2 re i-.

ally mounted on the shaft. Cross-sectionslly the peripheral wall of the housing; rosy comprise a plurality of su erimposed fisheped sections 102,- so that t e peripheral space within the housing convergently to: ers redially outwardly to the spices of to superimposed ll-shsped sections.

recurs? At the respective spices of sections la the well of the housing is circumferentislly slotted so as to form outlets 5 for the centrifugally separated suspended materials; and the intake for the flow containing finely suspended matter preferabl comprises a plurality of annular slots 6 in t e perl heral wall of thehousing at the junctions of the bases of its superimposed V-shaped sections, so that outlets 5 are spaced appreciably radially outwardly beyond the intakes 6.

ln operation, with impellers 2 rotated at a, suitable speed, fluid containing suspended matter is supplied to intakes 6 at a pressure greater than the pressure in housing 1 at said intakes resulting from the centrifu' el force created by the rotating impellers, ut et a pressure less than the pressure occasioned b the centrifugal force at the outlets 5 whic are radially outwardly beyond intulresll; and the fluid is thus forced into housing 1 where it is rotated by the impellers so that suspended matter is centrifugally forced radially outwerdly for discherge through slots 5, while the fluid, free of such suspended matter, and responsive to the pressure of the fluid supply,

spirals centripetally in the housing for ultimate discharge at outlet 4,

The whirling fluid housing 1 is thus under pressure and has a momentum greater then that of the incominr" flow, conseouently when the incor flow first strikes the whirling fluid at 6, at least some of the suspended matter, upon inspect with the whirling muss will thrown a ten out through slots e "for from the iniiowing fluid, which, d pressure, will be incorporated in th m 1 g mess for subsequent'centrifugel seperstion eny re- I meining suspended matter A shell 10 which encloses housing 1 preferehly provides for how supply to the intakes 6 and removal of separated suspended matter from the outlets 5, may form n circumferentiel distributing chamher ll radially outwardly beyond housing 1; and below said housing the shell is preferably funnelshaped and terminates its lower end in an outlet 13.

. The outlet 13 may communicate with e pipe it end is preferably provided witl suitable vslvulsrcontrc-l 15 for regulating withdrawal of the separated suspended matter; and the outlet lfor the fluid which has been "freed of suspended matter preferebly cor" unicates with a pipe 16 which may he provided with u' suitable valvular control 1? A pipe 18 may supply the flow to chsmber 11, the being under s pressure which need just in excess of the pressure occasioned by centrifugal force at intakes 6.

By enclosing the housing 1 in the shell 10 end re let-in the valve 15, the pressure in the she l exteriorly of outlets 5 be built up so that only suspended materiel end prec neeaver mechanical difficulties in regulating the valve.

In similar manner the valve 17 being mounted in the non-rotating pipe 16 avoids diflicultics of mechanical construction or operation, and

by suitable regulation controls the flow through the apparatus, with practically no 31% more ower consumed when the device is operating than when it is running idle, due to the fact that the whirling mass of fluid in housin l is reduced to practically estate of axiel ow before released from the housing at the outlet 4.

The provisions of a plurality of restricted end circumferentislly extending intake slots 6, having however a comparatively lar e comhined cross-sectional area, insures a re atively slow momentum of approach, and means are preferably provided for uniformly distributmg the incoming flow to the intakes 6 and spacing said incomin flow from the suspended matter which 1s discharged through slots 5.

As an instance of this arrangement a plurality of conduits 25 preferably branch from pipe 18 and open at arcuately s aced points and in the same circumferential direction into chamber 11 at the respective superimposed recesses 24 which are formed exterlorly of the peripheral wall of housin l by its ti-shaped sections la, and verticaLy disposed radial bafies 26 may be circumferentially spaced in recesses 2% so as to extend across the intake slots 6.

It will thus be seen that the incoming flow is circumferentially discharged into chamber 11 via of conduits 25 with bafdes 26 stopping rotary motion of the flow as it enters intakes 6; and the suspended materials are discharged through slots radially outwardly beyond the incoming flow through conduits 25, with batlies 2'? at the inner surface of shell 10 preferahly stopping rotary movement of the dischar (1 materials so that they may be readil co lected in the funnehshaped lower portron of the shell, I

y The invention thus provides for eficient lid @@ separation of suspended matter from fluid,

by centrifugally discharging the suspended matter in opposition to centripetal flow of the fluid, together with'initial separation of at least some of the suspended matter irrespective of centrifugal force and merely as a result of the momentum of the whir ing fluid which is under pressure throwing ofi some of the suspended matter in the incoming flow immediatel upon contact of the approaching fiow with the whirling mass; and the invention further provides extremely simple but practical mechanism or producing the de sired separation, with thewhirling mass of fluid reduced to ractically a state of axial g'fiow before its discharge, thereby avoiding excessive power consumption, and the moving elements housed completely within stationary parts, which are provided withv the necessary valvular means for regulating the discharge of both the fluid and the separated suspended matter, so that difiiculties of mechanical construction or operation are avoided.

It will be noted that the incoming flow is rotated in chamber ll as a result of the conduits all opening in the same circumferential direction, with the spacing of outlets 5 radially outwardly beyond the open ends of the conduits preventing contamination of the incoming flow by the residue discharged through said outlets; and the resulting centrifugal stress in chamber 11 thus tends to separate the coarser extraneous materials so that they collect against bellies 2'? at the inner surface of shell 10 for discharge into the lower portion of the shell, while the remainder of the flow is stopped in its rotary movement by bafiles 26 and is thus directed radially inwardly through inlets 6 where it strikes. the fluid in the housing which is being rotated by impellers 2. Rotational inertia of the radially moving flow thus tends to prevent at least some of the suspended materials from entering the whirling mass as a result of such residue being thrust aside from the direct line of flow so that it never com pletely enters the housing 1; while the re maining flow which enters the housing is incorporated in the fluid rotated by the impell ers, and is thus subjected to centrifugal stress whereby solid materials are discharged through outlets 5. At the same time the fluid which has been freed of all or nearly all the suspended materials, flows centripetally through housing 1 underthe influence of the initial pressure of the flow, for d1scharge at outlet 4. c

If there still remains some extremely fine particles of suspended materials mixed with the fluid, the How may be passed through a filtering medium before discharge at outlet 4, with the filtering medium preferably adapt ed to automatically clean itself of any such accumulation of residue as might impair the continuous operation of the device.

For this purpose the impellers 2 may be vertical blades projecting radially from a hollow cylindrical drum 30 which has closed ends and the peripheral wall of which comprises merely a skeleton framing as shown at 31. Shaft 3 projects beyond the respective ends of the drum for rotating the drum with the shaft, and the depending portion of the shaft is hollow and communicates with the interior of the hollow drum, and at its lower end opens into outlet 4 beyond a suitable stufling box 40. A filtering medium shown asv filter cloth 32 overlies the inner surface of the peripheral wall of the skeleton drum, so

that all of the fluid flowing toward outlet 4 strikes the filtering medium for separation of even the finest particles of suspended materials'and dischar e via of the hollow shaft of only the clean uid.

The articles which collect on the filterin me ium and which are so fine that'indivi ually they are not removed by centrifugal stress, will thus accumulate until their aggregate is of such -mass that the centrifugal stress in housing 1 will discharge the same through outlets 5 as previously described, thereby automatically riodically clearing the filtering medium oi i'esidue before such fouling as might impair the flow of fluid and thus insuring continuous operation, which as previously described may include initial centrifugal separationof coarser suspended materials, followed by thrusting aside of suspended materials due to rotational lnertia of the radially. directed flow against a cir cumferentially moving fluid, together with centrifugal separation of those suspended materials which enter the whirling flow, and final filtration, and automatic removal from the filtering medium of any extremely line particles of suspended matter.

I claim 1 The method of removing materials whlchare finely suspended in a fluid, which comprises supplying the fluid containing the suspended materials to a body of said fluid which 1s under pressure and flowing at'an angle to and with a momentum a preciably greater than that of the fluid suppl so as to throw oil from the flowing body of fluid at least a part of the suspended materials while incorporating the remainderof the fluid supply m said flowing body of fluid, and collectng and removing said thrown-oil suspended material without the same havin been incorporated in the flowing body of uid.

2 The method of removing materials wh1ch are finely suspended in a fluid, which comprises supplying the fluid containing the suspended materials to a body of said fluid rotatin under pressure at a momentum appreciab y ater'than that of the fluid supply, the uid supply being substantially radially to and adjacent the periphery of the rotating body of fluid so as to throw oif from said body fluid at least a part of the suspended materials, while incor orating the remainder of the fluid supply in said rotatmg fluid collecting and removing said thrown-o suspended material without the.

, same having been incor orated in the rotating fluid, and ce'ntri ugally discharging from the rotatin fluid the remainder of the suspended materials, the pressure of the'fluid supply being such as to cause-centripetal flow to an axial discharge of the fluid from which the suspended materials have been separated.

3. In combination, a housing, an impeller adapted for rotation in the housing, a disspaced radially inwardl from the dischargfi an outlet at the axis the housing, a she enclosing the housing and forming a passageway communicating with the intake and the discharge, a supply conduit leading to said passageway, and a conduit. communicating with the axial outlet and extending outwardly through the shell.

4. In combination, a housing, an impeller adapter for rotation in the housing, a dischar e from the housing, an intake to the housing, an outlet at the axis of the housmg, a shell enclosing the housing, a su ply co nduit communicating with the intae, a discharge conduit communicating with the d18- charge, a conduit communicating with the axial outlet and extending outwardly through the shell, a valvular control for the discharge conduit, and a valvular control for the conduit which communicates with the axial outlet.

5. In combination, a housing,-a n impeller adaptedfor'rotation-in the housing, a (115- charge at the periphery of the housmg, an intake to the housin an outlet at the axis of the housing, a she enclosing the hous ng and forming a passageway communicating with the intake and the discharge, a supply conduit lcading to said passageway, a discharge conduit communicating with sea passageway, and a conduit communicating with the axial outlet and extending outwardly through the shell.

6. In combination, a housing, an impeller adapted for rotation in the housing, a eucumferential discharge slot in the ousing, an intake to the housing, an outlet at the axis of the housing, a shell enclosing the housing and forming a passageway communieating with the intake and the discharge, and a supply conduit leading to said passage- 7 In combination, a housing, an impeller adapted for rotation in the housing, a discharge from the housing, a circumferential intake slot in the housing spaced radially inwardly from the discharge, an outlet at the axis of the housing, a shell enclosing the housing and forming a passageway communi cating with the intake and the discharge, and a supply conduit leading to said passage- 8 In combination, a housing, an impeller adapted for rotation in the housing, a discharge from the housing, a circumferential intake slot in the housing, circumferentially spaced baflles extending across the intake slot at the outer surface of the housing an outlet at theaxis of the housing, a shell enclosing the housing and forming a passageway communicating with the intake slot, and a suppjlly conduit leading to the passageway;

9. n combination, a housing, an impeller pipes opening into said passageway ad a outer peripheral wall comprising a plurality of superimposed V-shapcd sections, an im-' peller in the housing, discharges at the apjces of said V-shaped sections, intakes at the junctions of the bases of said V-shaped sections, an outlet at the axis of the housing, a shell enclosing the housing, and'a supply conduit leading to said intakes.

11. In combination, a housing having an outer peripheral wall comprising a plurality of superimposed V-shaped sections, an impeller in the housing, discharges atthe apices of said V-shaped sections, annular intake slots at the junctions of the bases of said V-shaped sections, circumferentially spaced vertical baflies extending across the intake slots at the outer surface of the housing, an outlet at the axis of the housing, a shell enclosing the housing and forming a passage way communicating with the intake slots, and a supply conduit leading tosaid passageway.

12. In combination, a housing having an outer peripheral wall comprising a plurality of superimposed ,V-shaped sections, an impeller in the housing, discharges at the apices of said V-shaped sections, intakes at the junctions of the bases of said V-shaped sections, a'shell forming a passageway surrounding the peripheral wall of the housing, supply cent the junctions of the bases of the V-shaped sections and in radially inwardly spaced relation from the apices of said V -shaped sections, and an outlet at the axis of t .e housing.

13. In combination, a housing, an impeller adapted for rotationin the housing, a discharge from the housing, an intake to the houslng spaced radially inwardly from the discharge, a shell forming a passageway surrounding the housing, a sup 1y pipe opening into said passageway in ra ially inwardly spaced relation from the discharge, and an outlet at the axis of the housing.

14. In combination, a housing, an impeller adapted for rotation in the housing, a dischar e from the housing, an intake to the housing,- an outlet at the axis'of the housing, a shell enclosing the housing and forming a passageway communicating with the intake and the discharge, and a supply conduit leading to said passageway.

15. In combination, a housing, an impeller adapted for rotation in thehousing, a discharge from the housing, an intake to the housing, an outlet at-the axis of the housing, a shell enclosing the housing and forming a passageway communicating with the dis charge, circumferentially spaced bafiles in said passageway radially outwardly beyond the housing, and a supply conduit leading to the intake.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature.

- JOHN M. CLEAVER. 

